Ashby 'acted in combination' with others

Peter Slipper's staffer James Ashby acted "in combination" with his colleague Karen Doane and former Howard government minister Mal Brough when he began court proceedings against his boss, a Federal Court judge has found.

In a judgment handed down on Wednesday, Justice Steven Rares dismissed the sexual harassment claim as an abuse of court process, saying Mr Ashby's main purpose was to pursue a political attack against Mr Slipper.

The evidence had established "Ashby acted in combination with Ms Doane and Mr Brough when commencing the proceedings in order to advance the interests" of the Queensland Liberal National Party (LNP) and Mr Brough.

"Mr Ashby and Ms Doane set out to use the proceedings as part of their means to enhance or promote their prospects of advancement or preferment by the LNP, including by using Mr Brough to assist them in doing so," Justice Rares wrote.

Mr Brough, who is the coalition's candidate for the Queensland federal seat of Fisher held by Mr Slipper first as an LNP member and now as an Independent, initially said he was gobsmacked by the finding before saying he wanted to read the judgment before making further comment.

The judgment said Mr Ashby began planning his "attack" in February 2012, after taking up the $138,000-a-year job as adviser to the then-speaker on December 22, 2011.

The court heard Mr Ashby on February 2 met with then Queensland shadow minister and LNP MP Mark McArdle and discussed what the judge described as a "plan".

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According to Mr Ashby, he told Mr McArdle he was distressed about text messages from Mr Slipper, but Mr McArdle told him to ignore them and foster a professional relationship.

In a March 26 text message to Mr McArdle, Mr Ashby wrote: "I've decided to press ahead with what I spoke to u (sic) about some weeks ago. It's going to (be) the biggest challenge of my life, but this man needs stopping. He's hurt too many people."

Justice Rares said Mr Ashby and Ms Doane had decided no later than March 28 to work together on a "journey".

"Mr Ashby and Ms Doane had decided by 29 March 2012 that Mr Ashby would make allegations of sexual harassment in legal proceedings against Mr Slipper," the judgment said.

They also decided to "assist" Mr Brough and News Ltd journalist Steve Lewis to damage Mr Slipper "in the public eye and political arena with any information they could find".

Mr Ashby confided to Mr Brough about being "sexually harassed" by Mr Slipper.

On April 6, Mr Ashby, Mr Brough and Ms Doane met with David Russell QC, a former National Party president, at his Sunshine Coast home.

Mr Ashby handed Mr Russell a bundle of papers saying they were notes he had made and copies of text messages sent to him by Mr Slipper. Mr Russell suggested Mr Ashby hire a lawyer.

Justice Rares said Mr Brough was seen by Mr Ashby and Ms Doane as "their means of obtaining favour from the LNP in seeking new employment".

Evidence of job-seeking was found in an email sent on April 10 by Ms Doane to Mr Brough, to which she attached a resume and asked it be considered by billionaire Clive Palmer, then a major donor to the LNP.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman was asked on Wednesday if the court's findings would reflect badly on the state Liberal National Party government.

"Nope," Mr Newman replied, saying questions should be directed at the federal sphere.

"Look it's got nothing to do with me ... I don't know the guy (Mr Ashby)."

The premier said he had not spoken to his Energy Minister Mark McArdle after it was alleged in court that Mr McArdle had discussed the sexual harassment allegations with Mr Ashby before a complaint was made.

"No, not at all, I don't intend to. It's got nothing to do with me or the state government," Mr Newman said.

The court heard that Mr Ashby on February 2 met with then Queensland shadow minister and LNP MP Mr McArdle and discussed what the judge described as a "plan".

According to Mr Ashby, he told Mr McArdle he was distressed about text messages from Mr Slipper, but Mr McArdle told him to ignore them and foster a professional relationship.

In a March 26 text message to Mr McArdle, Mr Ashby wrote:

"I've decided to press ahead with what I spoke to u (sic) about some weeks ago. It's going to (be) the biggest challenge of my life, but this man needs stopping. He's hurt too many people."